“The next bombshell was really personal” -Larry Bird felt dejected when the Celtics acquired Dennis Johnson

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The Boston Celtics engineered a series of strategic moves that propelled them to four consecutive NBA Finals and secured three championships in just seven years. Among these moves was the acquisition of Dennis Johnson in the summer of 1983. Surprisingly, when Larry Bird got wind of the trade, his initial response wasn’t all optimistic.

Though Johnson proved to be a defensive linchpin that the Celtics desperately needed in their scheme, the trade that brought him to the Celtics had its bittersweet side. As Rick Robey was traded away to the Suns, Bird, who considered him his ‘best friend in the game,’ couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness at the departure.

Bird on Robey’s departure

Within the pages of his autobiography, ‘Drive: The Story of My Life,’ the three-time MVP shared his perspective on the arrival of ‘Airplane.’

While Bird acknowledged the positive impact of Johnson joining the team, he couldn’t shake the personal aspect of the trade as, for the first time, he saw a close friend being traded away purely from a business standpoint.

“The next bombshell was really personal,” Bird said. “Red traded Rick Robey to Phoenix for Dennis Johnson. I certainly wasn’t upset that we traded for Dennis Johnson. I loved his style, and I knew he would help us. But I was sad they had traded Rick away…. That was the very first time anyone I was really close to had been traded. I thought about all the fun we had.”

Johnson’s arrival changed the fate of Boston Celtics

Following their 1981 NBA championship, the Celtics faced back-to-back defeats in the following years against the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively. Recognizing the need for a shift, the team turned its attention to a five-time All-Star to increase their defensive tenacity.

With his seamless transition into the team and the adept manner in which he addressed the voids in the roster, Johnson’s impact was profound. After joining the starting lineup in 1983, the Celtics reached four consecutive NBA Finals.

Demonstrating his prowess as a two-way player, Johnson averaged 12.6 points, 6.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over his seven seasons with the Celtics, ultimately ending his 14-year-NBA career with 9 All-Defensive team selections.